Apparatus for drying solutions containing macromolecules

Abstract

An apparatus and method for quickly drying solutions in one or more arrays of vessels includes a manifold that receives gas and a base plate that receives the one or more arrays of vessels. The manifold includes one or more hollow tubes that direct the gas into the vessels, where the gas evaporates the solutions. A variety of types of hollow tubes are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas is filtered, pressurized and/or heated. In an exemplary embodiment, the solutions are heated. The base plate is hingeably coupled to the manifold so that the base plate has an open position and a closed position. The open position permits users to place and remove the vessels that contain solutions to be dried. In the closed position, the base plate and the manifold are in sealing engagement with one another, wherein the one or more of the hollow tubes extend into the vessels. A unique hinging system is disclosed that couples one or more base plates to a base so that, when the base plate is in the open position, the base plate is substantially horizontal. When the base plate is in the closed position, it is tilted at an angle so that the vessels are tilted at the angle, providing the solutions to be dried with a greater surface area. A variety of optional vapor recovery systems are disclosed. A variety of open loop and closed loop electrical control systems are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for drying solutions containing macromolecules, comprising: a first base plate configured to receive vessels having solutions containing macromolecules; and   a first manifold disposed above said first base plate, said first manifold and said first baseplate forming a cavity therebetween, said manifold including one or more hollow tubes that extend into the cavity to provide gas therein.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more hollow tubes extend into one or more vessels when the vessels are disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first base plate heater.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first base plate heater comprises: a substantially flat heater disposed on a surface of said base plate.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a filter disposed upstream of said first manifold.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a fan disposed upstream of said first manifold.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater disposed upstream of said first manifold.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an exhaust fan disposed downstream of said first manifold.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first base plate comprises means for receiving at least one removable vessel tray. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first base plate comprises means for receiving at least one removable vessel tray that holds a plurality of vessels. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first base plate comprises a plurality of vessel cavities. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manifold comprises: a nozzle plate that includes an array of passages, wherein said one or more hollow tubes extend from the passages and into the cavity; and   a baffle disposed above said nozzle plate, said baffle and said nozzle plate defining a plenum therebetween, wherein said first nozzle plate and said first base plate define the cavity therebetween.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an electrical control system.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said electrical control system comprises: an open-loop electrical control system.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said electrical control system comprises: a closed-loop electrical control system.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said electrical control system comprises: a combination open-loop and closed-loop electrical control system.   
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a level detector disposed within the cavity.   
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: an electrical control system that controls a temperature of an inlet gas based, at least in part, on an input from said level detector.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: an electrical control system that controls a pressure of an inlet gas based, at least in part, on an input from said level detector.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a hinge that hingedly couples said first base plate to said first manifold.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first base plate has a closed position at which said base plate is at an angle α. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said angle α is between five and thirty-five degrees. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a base coupled to said first base plate;   a second base plate coupled to said base; and   a second manifold disposed above said second base plate;   wherein said second base plate and said second manifold are configured substantially the same as said first base plate and said first manifold.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: a duct system that includes; a common branch,   a first branch coupled between said common branch and said first manifold, and   a second branch coupled between said common branch and said second manifold.     
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said duct system comprises a T-branch duct system. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said duct system comprises a Y-branch duct system. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said duct system further comprises: a heater.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more hollow tubes comprise: a hollow tube that includes one or more substantially downwardly directed openings.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more hollow tubes comprise: a hollow tube that includes one or more substantially horizontally directed openings.   
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a vapor recovery system disposed downstream of said first manifold.   
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a vapor recovery system disposed within said first manifold.   
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said vapor recovery system comprises: a vapor recovery plate.   
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said vapor recovery system comprises: a vapor recovery hollow tube disposed coaxial to one or more of said one or more hollow tubes.   
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first base plate is configured to receive laboratory vessels. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for providing the gas individually to each of the vessels. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for substantially preventing cross-vessel contamination.